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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2317.PDF
NOVEMBER 5TH, 1942 F LIC HT 499 LISBON'S NEW AIRPORT Now in Use Though Not Quite Completed : British Airways' Machine Effects "Symbolic' Opening : Air-marine Base Also Projected EBON Airport has at long last become a fact, for as from October 19th it can now be used by aircraft. Although not yet quite complete as regards the build ings, the airfield and runways are quite ready. Because of the insufficiency of the Sintra airdrome, and the diffi culty of access, to Sintra, the new Lisbon Airport has been thrown open for service. It has not yet been officially opened ; this ceremony will only take place when all the buildings are finished and the radio installation, ordered in the U.S.A., has been installed. The new airport was "symbolically" inaugurated October 15th, when an aircraft of British Overseas Airways (of American construction and the property of a Dutch air line company) flew over the city and landed on the new * airfield with a load of distinguished passengerk namely, His j Excellency the British Minister to Portugal, Mr- Jdhn Bai- tfour; Col. Alfredo Sintra, CommandeVin-ClHei of the ^TPcrtuguese Military Air Force; Engineer Roarigues de Carvalho, President of the Lisbon Municipa Chan\ber ; Mr., L. E. Hough and Dr. Alexandre Pinto B^sto, of Britist Airways. Representatives of Lufthansa and Ala Littbriafaere *so present at the airport—representing '' symbolically '' Jneir respective nations. ^^ Position and Approach Although no longer a secret, it is not yet possible to pub lish details as to the size, length and number of runways, and other interesting facts; these should be available shortly. But one can state that the airfield is quite large, even although not so large as others one has seen in Europe. It is very well situated, but a few miles from the centre of Lisbon, easily reached in ten or twelve minutes by car or motor-coach. It stands on a small plateau to the North of Lisbon, just beyond the administrative boundary of the capital, and the apprqaefies from all directions are as near perfect as can be. The nearest obstacle which might offer danger in bad weather is found in the wireless masts at Monsanto, but they are several miles away and in a direction not likely to be used except in emergency. The municipal authori ties have provided a broad avenue from the centre of the city to the outskirts (Arieiro), whence the avenue becomes even broader, with two wide traffic ways separated by a grass plot, all the way to the airport buildings. Each traffic way can comfortably accommodate at least four auto mobiles abreast, and it is alrpefet as straight as the pro verbial die. near the air-marine base of five^flr six minutes by car, which is a managemej The new ail port Cabo Ruivo, say favourable feature The the time posed of aero is intendediftj port future beint as the.-^irport will be taken over, for y an Adiibinistrative Commission, com- mflitajy and civilian technicians. It eventually, the management of this air- -*£ any others that may be established ia the 11 Be taken over by a concessionary company, whicJjfwiH probably imply rather less control by the State, althVqgh it is likely that the State will always be in the jground. No details of the nature of this concessionary pany are available for the present. Cabo Ruivo Cabo Ruivo base, started by Pan American Airways early in 1939, has never been more than a provisional one. The facilities had to be improvised, and P.A.A. had to make the best of the site offered—there being few others suitable, and none offering everything that could be desired. Per haps the most awkward feature of the base, as it exists, is the fact that it is not easy of access from Lisbon, and although not far, the road runs through ? somewhat con gested and fairly industrial part of the town. However, authority has been given by the Portuguese Government, through the Ministry of Public Works, tor the construction of a proper air-marine base, on the same site, and, having regard to the requirements of such a base, attention will be paid to the river bank, as well as to the industrial area which it is expected will grow up in the vicinity. Projects exist for this work, been released yet, and a large allocated to begin the scheme. Lisbon will therefore soon become marked in very large letters on the commercial aviation map of Europe, because geographically it is undoubtedly the most suitable junction between the Old and New Worlds, irrespective of Old or New Orders, and when peace comes to us again the iinpor tance of Lisbon may return to something of what it was 200 years ago, when it was the clearing house of South western European trade with the Americas and Africa. • although no details have sum of money has been COMPOSITE NON-SUCH-No. 2 Here is a twin-engined bomber of very mixed parentage for a spotters' exercise. While it looks reasonably normal, we should hate to handle it round about the stall. The parts to be identified are: (1) Port wing; (2) port engine ; (3) port undercarriage ; (4) starboard wing; (5) starboard engine ; (6) starboard undercarriage ; (7) nose; (8) under turret; (9) rear fuselage ; (10) port tail assembly ; (JI) starboard tail assembly. (The solution appears on page 508 )
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